WHEN people speak of York's great industries, Ben Johnson generally gets a mention.

The printing firm was a major employer in the city for more than 150 years and is still one of the most celebrated names around.

The company was formed in 1841, when Hull printer William Goddard and businessman John William Lancaster joined forces and set up shop in Bridge Street, York. Seven years later, the partnership was dissolved, but John Lancaster kept the premises.

Wisely, he employed Ben Johnson, who had served as an apprentice to an engraver in Huddersfield, to take control of his printing and stationery business. By 1880, Johnson was the sole owner and the firm took his name. A factory had been built in Micklegate and was expanded until, in 1907, it covered 75,000 sq ft.

After his death in 1901, Ben's sons, Cecil and Gilbert, took control of the business. In 1932, fire destroyed the mainly wooden factory and new premises were built in Boroughbridge Road. Alan Littlewood, 70, worked at the factory between 1975 and 1986.

He started off as a packer, but later moved to the semi-skilled folding machines.

"It was a good job and I was treated very well," he remembers. "The boss, Bernard Johnson, was very good and he used to always walk round and talk to everybody and the people in the factory were great; we had a brilliant time together and would go out for drinks after work."

Mr Littlewood remembers printing catalogues, knitting patterns, books and labels for cat food.

"I certainly have fond memories of my time there. I made some good friends and I still see a lot of them socially because they play for the Ben Johnson cricket club."

For many years, some of Britain's best-known magazines were printed there, from Elle to Penthouse.

American firm RR Donnelley's took over the factory in the early 80s, and a ten-year contract began to produce millions of telephone directories for British Telecom.

Ben Johnson Office Solutions is now based in Clifton Moor.

Did you work at Ben Johnson? Would you like to share your memories with us? Phone Charlotte Percival on 01904 653051 X 337, email charlotte.percival@ycp.co.uk or write to I Remember That, Features, The Press, 76 - 86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN.